Friday, May 31, 2013

galapagos week 1




¡hola from puerto ayora!


I have arrived! I am thrilled to be writing this from an internet cafe in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. I will start off by saying that I would not be here if it weren't for the support of my fiance, my family, my school, and the Gilman Scholarship program. I am so fortunate to be spending a month here on a study-abroad adventure of a lifetime. I have been wanting to start a travel blog for awhile and as part of the scholarship, I get to blog about my journey. Since I am a photographer and not a writer, I believe my photos will do a better job speaking for me, but I'll tell you a little about my week so far. I am travelling with 19 other people- 3 teachers and 16 other students. I love my new friends! There are 3 classes being taught among us- biology, genetics, and drawing. Though I am madly interested in science, I am taking the drawing class in hopes of bettering my basic photography skills- seeing lines and shapes, simplifying forms, and slowing down. Luckily, I'm learning alot about science just by being here. We arrived Sunday after over 24 hours of travelling and a brief overnight stop in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This place is magical! It is like another planet. I am among some of the strangest and most beautiful life in the world. So far my favorite activity has been snorkeling with sea lions! They are like curious, playful puppies and I could have touched them if it weren't strictly forbidden. Everything here is extremely protected and you can't go many places without a guide. On Monday we went to the Darwin Research Station and saw the tortoises and hiked to Tortuga Bay. I've seen black-tipped reef sharks, sting rays, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, puffer fish, clown fish, giant cacti, and the bluest ocean on the planet. It's "winter" here just south of the equator which means highs of 82, lows of 72, no rain, some clouds and a view of the Southern Cross every night from my window. Every morning we are served some of the world's best coffee, along with fresh fruit and juice from papayas, mangoes, and bananas from the yard. The restaurants are surprisingly accommodating of my vegan diet and I'm eating lots of rice, salad, beans, bread, soup and the best picante/hot sauce I've ever had. Just yesterday I discovered the coconut stand where I was served coconut water from a coconut that was drilled open right in front of me! The people here are beautiful and warm and amazing and very patient with my terrible attempts at Spanish. I am enjoying learning how to draw by the swimming pool at our quaint hotel and walking everywhere I go. At night I like to go to the "tree house" and get a sorbet like coconut or papaya and stroll home after visiting the sea lions and sharks at the dock. I feel like this is all a whirlwind and a dream and I'm trying to be mindful and soak it all in. I'm sure I've forgotten something but there will be more to come. I'm off to learn salsa dancing and tomorrow we leave for Isabella Island. Big love to everyone! ¡Hasta luego!

the pacific ocean from the plane




around puerto ayora



our hotel

the street where our restaurant is

 




where our water comes from



flora






 cactus

hibiscus



fauna

blue-footed boobies and sea lion!


sally lightfoot crabs 





 

moth


frigatebird

people

las grietas